Hacienda de San Rafael

Hacienda de San Rafael, Andalucia, is a luxury agroturismo rural retreat between Seville and Jerez and close to the pleasant beaches of the Costa de la Luz. A boutique hotel in a restored 450 year old Hacienda farmhouse, it has rustic charm in abundance, but doesn’t forgo modern comforts or facilities.

It has three swimming pools, two bars and a tremendous restaurant. The gardens are suitably beautiful with lush lawns and flower beds shaded by giant palm trees. And it also has a little organic garden farm from where it gets much of the ingredients for its highly rated food.

THE ACCOMMODATION:

The have a choice of rooms and suites, or what they call rooms and suites, as a more appropriate description would be suites and larger suites. All of the rooms are very spacious, over 40m² in fact, and all of them come with a separate sitting area and an outside verandah/terrace area.

The suites are enormous really; a full 120m² in total. They are in the form of individual thatched cottages with their own private garden & terrace area, and an infinity pool to be shared with guests of the other suites.

You’ll find both the rooms and the suites to be beautifully appointed, with a nice mix of antique furniture, art works and design touches that preserve the rustic ambience of an Andalusian farmhouse. The bathrooms are marble or slate and all have showers and separate bathtubs. The Hacienda exudes an old fashioned glamour but you can expect hotel facilities alongside the rustic decor; air con, WiFi, flat screen satellite TV etc.

As mentioned above, there are two bars at the property and a restaurant which serves up some outstanding seasonal Andalusian food much of the ingredients of which; herbs, fruits and vegetables, come fresh from the organic garden farm outside.

You can start the day with a generous fresh breakfast, sample some tapas later and then enjoy a full multi course evening meal with unlimited wine to end the day with. You can choose to dine outside on the terrace or around the swimming pool in the gardens if you wish.

Various relaxation treatments, massage, aromatherapy, reflexology and yoga can be arranged on site, and there is also a paddle-tennis court in the gardens.

Note: No children allowed! (Over 12s only)

THE LOCATION:

The location is blissfully peaceful and rural but conveniently close to the bustling city of Seville. It shouldn’t take you much more than a half an hour to get here from the city centre, traffic permitting. Jerez would be around the same with the lovely coastal city of Cadiz, and the beaches of the surrounding Costa de la Luz, about ten or fifteen minutes further on.

Just north of there too is a relatively under-appreciated highlight of southern Spain; the marshlands and lagoons of the Doñana Nature Reserve, home to many rare species of birdlife.

Though the immediate area around the agroturismo is rural and calm there is still a huge number of activities to be enjoyed, and all of which can be arranged with the help of the friendly owners including bespoke tours. Guided excursions for example, on horseback or on foot, through the Sierra de Grazalema, the Sierra de Huelva or the above mentioned Doñana Nature Reserve.

Cooking classes with local chefs, olive oil tasting sessions, tapas tours and local farm visits can also be arranged, and golfers too can arrange a few rounds at one of the many courses in the area, from Real Seville to Montecastillo.

City day tours to Seville, Jerez or Cadiz and pretty much anywhere else can also be arranged, as can transfers to and from nearby airports.

WHAT OTHER GUESTS SAY:

“Beautiful hotel with first class service, food and wine. Perfect for a relaxing, romantic getaway….”

“Such a beautiful, sophisticated, quiet place! And impeccable service and food. Would certainly recommend!…”

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